Combined gear guard and step



Oct. 9,1928 '1,687,078 H. V. BALL COMBINED GEAR GUARD AND STEP Filed May 27, 1925 n ATTYs.

iiatented ct. 9, i928.

Iran? STATES PATENroF-Flca; Y.

HARRY V. BALL, OF CONCORSO7 MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 R. HOE & COL, INC., OF

.- -NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMBINED GEAR GUARD ND STEP.

y Application filed Hay 27, 19725. Serial No. 33,096.

In large multi-decl: printing mechanismsV or in printing machines in which the cylinders are of considerable height above thev floor, it is necessary for the pressman to climb above themacliines for dressing the plate cylinders or for making any required adjustments in the inlring and the other mechanisms. hese machines areA gear driven, and it is necessary that these gears be guarded or protected so as not to involve .the pressman in danger of being caught in the gears.

I-Ieretofore it has been customary to use steps projecting out sideways from the machine, which the pressman used in climbing around the different parts of the mechanisms, and, in some instances, these projecting `steps were in the way of other mechanismaor were diiiicult to install in the `desired location owing to the confined space in the press room.

It is a special object of the present invenion to provide a combined-gear guard and platform on which the pressman may stand while performing his duties around the machine, thus doing away with parts projecting beyond the gears.

IVith this and other objects not specifically referred to in view, the invention consists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combination-s which will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel features pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

Referring to these drawings,-

Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, of so much of a printing machine as is necessary for an understanding of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the broken line Y2--2 of Fig. 1; Y

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and p y Figure 4; is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 1. x

Referring now to these draw-ings, the invention has beenjillustrated-a's used with a rinting machine, a portion of one declr only being shown, it being understood that one of the combined guards and platforms will be provided about the machine where necessary or required. As shown, there isillustrateda perfecting couple including a form cylinder 1, an impression cylinder 2, and a perfecting Vcouple including afformcylinder 3 and its impression cylinder 4, these cylinders being carried on shafts 5, suitably mounted in side frames. 6, of .any usual or suitable configuration-s. The form cylinders are inked from the usual distributing cylinders 7 and trains of ink rolls 8.,. The cylinders are, in the particular machine shown,"arranged in line, and these cylinders are driven through a train of gears from the form cylinder 1. To effect this, the shaft 5 is provided with a driving gear 9 which is in mesh with a gear 10 on the shaft 5 of the impression cylinder 2. This shaft also carries, inside the gear'lO, a gear 1l.which is in mesh with a gear 12 on the shaft 5 of the impression cylinderfi. This shaft also carries a gear 13, outside the gear 12, which is in mesh with the gear 14 on the shaft 5 of the form cylinder 3.

In accordance with the invention, a guard is provided for these gears which is formed so as to also act as a platformen which a press operator may stand. The guard, therefore, is made strong and rigid sov as to bear the weight to which it would be subjected. While the guard may be of, various configurations, in the particular construction shown the guard is in the form of a plate of metal having sides 15, 16, and a front 17. The front the construction, except for certain portions which extend over and protect the gear teeth,

as shown in Fig. 1 yand the top of the guard isk formed with a flat surface 18 which provides a platform. The guard may beheld in place in any suitablemanner. ticular construction illustrated, the guardis secured to the side frames 6, before referred to, at each end, by lmeans of a plate 19, this plate being bolted to the guard. and tothe frames vby bolts `20. K

The guard plate isalso securedintermediate'vits ends so'as to afford a very rigid structure. In the particular construction illustrated thek guard is providedwith interior thickened portions 2l to which are bolted legs Y22 of L-shaped'brackets23, the vertical legs In the parscribed, a very strong rigid construction is provided, which effectively guards Va train ol" gears and at the Sametime aiiords 'a strong platform or step on which the press operator can stand While performing` his duties about the press. Vhile theguard Shown has been found effective in practice, it will he understood that changes in the shape of the guard and in the method of securing it in place may he made Without departing from the invention-as defined inthe appended claims.

What I claim is 1. rllhe combination of a plurality of cylinders arranged in line, intermeshing gears on the cylinders at one end thereof for driving` them, a casingover the gears havinga Wide itlat top providing a platform on which an operator may Walk along vthe line of cylinders, and meansfor securingl the easing in position.

2. The combination of a plurality of cylinders arranged in line, intermeshing gears on the cylinders at one end thereof for driving them7 a casing over the gears and shaped to conform With the shape of the gears and having a Wide liat top providing a platform on which an operator may Wall; along the line of cylinders, and means for rigidly securing` the casing inposition.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto setv my hand. HARRY V. BALL.' 

